Improvement in axles for vehicles



CHAUNCEY M. MURCH,

PATENT GFFICE.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

,'MPRVEMENT |'N v.exils FOR vEHlc-L-Es.

lSpeci'tcationformingpart 'off Letters Patent No. 1495779 dated-April l-l, 18742 application fiiod v `lebrnary 27, 1874; i

bed or platform- `of the vehicle as l'ow down as practicable, is nevertheless as staunch and rigid-as a common straight axle-tree extending directly across the bed or body.

To accomplish this result the downwardlybent axle-tree is'stiii'ened with a system of brajcing, composedprin-cipally ci" angle-irons that `are so thoroughlybolted or riveted together as to render it impossible for the spindiesV of the axle-tree to be sprung out of their proper positions, no matter how heavily the vehicle may be loaded, or how rough and uneven the roads may be along which it is propelled. Y

In 'order to render this downwardly-bent a'Xle-'tr'ee more` rigid and nnyielding, so as to be adapted for use upon vehicles carrying .the heaviest loadsV that can be drawn, 'it may be stili iurtherstiffenedlby the application of an angleiron frame surrounding the ywagon or car "on both Vsides and also-at top, the overhead portion of said frame being elevated sufficiently to allow a perso-n to rpass under it.

vI further so construct said frame as to be readily and quickly pnt together by simple bending and riveting of its component parts, none of which are of unwieldly form or dimension, and hence the -entireframe can be put together by ,any blacksmith. y

Having thus brieiiy indicated the prominent features of my improvement, I will now proceed to `describe the same in detail.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my bent and braced axleitreeframe in its most complete form, and

readyvfor applicationto a vehicle of any hind, being .adapted to encircle bed or body, as `will presently appear. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the various members of the braced. axle-tree separated from each other. Fig. V3 1s a section at the line x Fig. 4 is a a section at the liney y. Fig. 5 isa section at the line z z; and Fig. Gis anel'evation oi' one corner of the frame. Of the above views,

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and Gare drawn on an enlarged tutes the axle-tree proper, and would, of itself,

be stout enoughl tosustainany ordinary load 5 but as the'object oi' my invention is Vto fur- .nish` an axle-tree capable of carrying any load that can be transported, it is evident said frame must be braced in the most secure and thorough manner,l and I accordingly stift'- en it by the following described system of braces.

By referring to Fig. 2,'it will be seen that `the axle-tree proper, C C C, is composed of T-angle iron, whose baser.l and web oare perforated at suitable intervals for the reception vof bolts or rivets D, wherewith the various braces are secured tol said axle-tree. The first brace that is secured in position is a horizontal one, E, whose base 'e is bolted upon the base ofthe horizontal portion C of the axle-tree. After-this two upright braces',I,` F', are -applied respectively to the vertical members C( C of the axle-tree, their bases f f being fastened to the bases c ofsaid vertical members. The lower'ends loi the uprights F F are notched or rabbeted, so :as to iit snugly against rthe ends of the 'horizontal stiffene'r E, and said uprights are vcarried np some distance above the vertical members'C C oi' the axle-tree, which elevation is regulated by the height of the caror wagon that is to ybe `suspended within fthe encircling frame.` The upper portions ofv the uprights F F are united by a transom-brace, G, whose base is notched at g g', in order that said brace may be fitted to the webs of said uprights. Two bent iron struts, Il H', connect the uprights F F' and transom G, lling blocks or4 plates h being interposed between these struts and the webs of said uprights and transom-brace, as `indicated in Fig. 4. Two braces, I I', are then bolted to the web c' of the horizontal member E, the lower edges of these braces resting upon the base e of said horizontal member. The ends of these braces are bent upwardly, as at J J', said bent portions being securely riveted to the webs f of the uprights F F'. K K' represent liat bars, which are continuations of the bent portion J J', although capable of being sep-y arated therefrom, and said bars or plates, like the membersJ J', are bolted to the webs f'. These ilat bars are represented as being carried up as high as the vertical members C' C" of the axle-tree, although they may be made much longer if desired, and in some cases they may abut against the ends of the transom-brace G, or its supporting-struts H H. The contiguous ends of the bent portions J J and of the bars K K' are notched, respectively, at j 7c, to receive upturned terminations L L of a iiat plate, M, whose horizontal portion rests upon the upper edges of the web e' and of the braces I I', said plate being secured in position by clips m and bolts D. These upturned portions L L' are slotted at l l', to receive the webs f' of the uprights FV F'. Ribs N N' prevent the curved portions L L' losing their proper shapes. Projecting from the members J J are spurs or stirrups j, which bear against the extrados of the bent portions L L ofthe plate M. Interposed between the extrados ofthe curved members or knees J J and the braces cf at the angles of the frame, are bracing-blocks O, having dowels o, that enter suitable sockets inthe aforesaid members J J', as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. Abuttin g beneath the shanks B Bl of the spindles, and bolted to the webs e of the vertical members C' C" of the axle, are plates I), having right-angled projections Q, that it up snugly against the base c of the horizontal member C of said axle. The intermediate plate It connects the opposing projections Q, as seen in Fig. l. The contiguous ends of the plates R Q are rabbeted, respectively, at r and q, in order that a common bolt may unite them to the web c' of the horizontal member C. U U' are comparatively short plates, which rest upon the upper surfaces of the shanks B B' and extend up to the tops of the vertical members C' C" of the axle proper, and are bolted .to the webs of the latter.

For some forms of vehicle I may add to the above features longitudinal bars S S', which, being firmly secured to the anglepieces P Q by bolts s, inclined obliquely upward at T T' T" T', are united to the upper parts of the plates P by means of bolts or rivets t. These longitudinal struts S T T' S' T" T"' may be united to, supporting or drawing spring-plates and serve to support or draw the vehicle.

The bed or body of the vehicle may rest upon'and be firmly attached to the lower horizontal member M I of the frame, or may be upheld any desired distance therefrom by means of suitable springs or cushions resting upon the portions m m, and attached thereto or to some other portion of said horizontal member. y

It will be seen that this form and con struction of axle-tree permit the spindle or axles to be located at any desired height upon thevertical portion, so as to bring the member C and its supported bed at any desired proximity to the ground, and that the continuation upward of the vertical portions C' C", and their connection atvtop by the transom G, secure as much rigidity to the spindles as if the tree were simply rectilinear, as in the common way, in which case, of course, the bed must necessarily be as far from the 1 ground as the radius of the wheels added tov the half-thickness of the axle-tree; and it is further manifest that the said encircling axletree, being composed wholly of comparativelyv small, cheap, and easily procurable, and read ily-handled sections of bar and angle iron, such as can be procured in any hardwarestore and put together in any blacksmiths shop, can be manufactured without heavy and expensive swaging, welding, or forging operations, and likewise, should any part give out, it can be easily replaced. y

It is also apparent that my said construction combines great strength with the sm allest practicable expenditure of material and. weight.

In the drawing the side plates P and U are shown as separable; but it is evident theyV may be composed of a single continuous piece of metal suitably bent or bowedto embrace or zsurround the shanks of the spindles, thereby together, thereby dispensing entirely with rivets and practically rendering the axle and its stiffening-braces a single piece of unyielding metal.

This encircling frame being so rigid and unyielding enables me to apply any system yof springs to said frame at the most eli'ective point.

These supporting-springs may be attached to the top, bottom, or side members of said frame, as may be most convenient or effect-A lve. 4

I claim herein as new and of my invenl. The encircling axle-tree, consisting essentially of the rectangular frame C C' C" G, the braces E F` F' I I, kneesV J J', struts H H', bars K K', plate M m, ribbed and upturned 2. The supporting and stilenng plates O1 and P Q, in combination with the encircling axle G C' C", substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

\ 3. The bracing-blocks O, in combination with the curved braces J J', the doWels o of said blocks entering sockets in the extrados of the braces, as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

GEO. H. KNIGHT, JAMEs H. LAYMAN. 

